Get Rid of Well-Water Stains

House-care expert, Heloise, makes a house call to get rid of tough well-water stains.

No matter how hard I scrub my toilets, I cannot get rid of the well-water stains. I've tried tried practically every toilet bowl cleanser (bleach made it worse). Any advice?

— Cailey Barnes via e-mail

Yup, chlorine bleach is a no-no — it accelerates rust if there's iron in your water. Instead, try a rust remover with oxalic acid in the ingredients list. Turn off the water valve and flush the toilet until all the water drains. Use the remover as directed; follow all safety instructions (and wear old clothes!). Turn the water valve back on; flush to rinse. If that doesn't work, try commercial-grade hydrochloric acid (ask your plumber for a source). Again, follow the safety advice; it's a very strong chemical.

How it worked: "The oxalic acid product did nothing," Cailey reported. "But I found a 23 percent hydrochloric acid cleanser. After two treatments, it faded the stain."